Reintegration of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) in nutraceutical diet as a superfood worldwide

Abstract

In the ethnic history, chia was the important crop worldwide, however, the prohibition of its use by almost 260 years led it almost disappeared, this mainly due that the tradition about their use as food and medicine was not trans­mitted in at least six generations, conducting that this crop re­mained forgotten for nearly 180 years. Today this marvelous crop has been rescued for a lot of scientists who’s through of an arduous research work to bring it back to live and make it avail­able for the nutritional balanced future generations around the world. Taking in account that in the next years its importance as food worldwide will be increased, will evident that chia crop is destined to be the Sleeping Beauty of all nutraceutical crops. Farmers can earn more profit by cultivating Chia seeds, for this it is necessary to keep awareness and readiness and remain in touch with agricultural institutions and universities.

Intensive research work is further carrying out by the most recognized global com­panies of nutraceutical world where vertical inte­gration of the chia into of new nutraceutical products like Nutrilite products “the best of nature, the best of science”. There is no doubt that the importance of chia as a functional food on the world will continue achieving and the next generation of func­tional food, supplements and nutraceuticals products where the main active ingredient is PUFAs ω3 will have as raw mate­rial of the chia seed.